BC-AP News Coverage Advisory 10:15,ADVISORY

Good morning! Here’s a look at how AP’s general news coverage is shaping up today. Some plans are subject to change; see the 2 p.m. News Digest for updates. You can find our contact info at the bottom of this advisory. All times EDT.

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HIGHLIGHTING:

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Among today’s coverage highlights as we see them at 10:15 a.m. EDT:

— TRUMP-MERKEL (sent; developing)

— TILLERSON-ASIA (sent; developing)

— CONGRESS-HEALTH OVERHAUL (upcoming)

— BUDGET-TRUMP VOTERS (sent)

— PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES-TAX RETURNS (upcoming)

— SUPREME COURT-GORSUCH-ASSISTED SUICIDE (upcoming)

— YEMEN (sent; developing)

— CHOLESTEROL DRUG (sent; may develop)

— WELLS FARGO-CEO (upcoming)

— FUEL ECONOMY-STAY THE COURSE (upcoming)

— SODA TAX-PHILADELPHIA (upcoming)

— FCC-TILT TO INDUSTRY (upcoming)

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT:

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— TRUMP-BRITAIN (sent; may develop)

— MARINES-NEW BRAND (sent)

— POLICE SHOOTING-NORTH CHARLESTON (sent; developing)

— HOUSE EXPLOSION (sent; developing)

— HILLARY CLINTON-ST. PATRICK’S DAY (sent; developing)

— AMBULANCE DRIVER KILLED (sent)

— DR. RUTH’S AMPHIBIANS (sent)

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Here are details of those stories, plus others we have in the works for today (all times EDT):

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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TRUMP-MERKEL – Trump welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House after spending much of 2016 bashing her, accusing her of “ruining” Germany by allowing an influx of refugees from Syria. SENT: 810 words, photo. UPCOMING: Developing from 11:20 a.m. meeting; 850 words by 4 p.m.

TILLERSON-ASIA – Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says it may be necessary to take pre-emptive military action against North Korea if the threat from their weapons program reaches a level “that we believe requires action.” SENT: 940 words. UPCOMING: 950 words by 3 p.m.

CONGRESS-HEALTH OVERHAUL – Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price goes to Capitol Hill to meet with members of the House Republican Caucus who are skeptical of the GOP health plan. UPCOMING: 850 words by 4 p.m.

UNITED STATES-SYRIA – A look at the evolving U.S. mission in Syria and how Trump may expand it further as US-backed forces close in on the Islamic State’s self-declared capital. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4 p.m., photos.

BUDGET-TRUMP VOTERS – In his first budget blueprint since taking office Trump held to his promise to build up the U.S. military while slashing domestic spending — even for programs that benefit the rural and lower-income Americans who voted for him last November. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

MARINES-NEW BRAND – The Marine Corps is launching an ad campaign aimed at millennials that portrays Marines as not only strong warriors but good citizens. SENT: 940 words, video, photos.

SUPREME COURT-GORSUCH-ASSISTED SUICIDE – Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch makes it clear in a book and other writings what he thinks about assisted suicide and euthanasia — he’s not a fan. His reasoning is not based on religious conviction but stems from his investigation of the subject stretching from ancient Greece to modern times. UPCOMING: 850 words by 2 p.m., photos.

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WORLD

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ISRAEL-SYRIA – Syria says it launched anti-aircraft missiles against Israeli warplanes in Israeli-controlled territory following a series of Israeli airstrikes inside Syria – a rare military exchange between the two hostile Mideast neighbors that was confirmed by both countries. SENT: 710 words, photo. UPCOMING: Developing.

YEMEN – A helicopter gunship attacked a boat packed with Somali migrants off the coast of Yemen overnight Thursday, killing at least 31 people, according to a U.N. agency, Yemeni officials and a survivor who witnessed the attack. SENT: 600 words. UPCOMING: Developing.

TRUMP-BRITAIN – A spokesman for Britain’s prime minister says the White House has promised that it won’t repeat a claim that U.K. spies snooped on U.S. President Donald Trump. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: May develop.

MIGRANT DEATHS – Migrant deaths rose sharply last year, particularly in the Mediterranean as smugglers made ever-riskier attempts to ferry asylum-seekers and refugees on increasingly unseaworthy vessels, according to United Nations statistics released Friday. SENT: 510 words, photos.

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US

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POLICE SHOOTING-NORTH CHARLESTON – A white former South Carolina police officer wants a judge to throw out the key piece of evidence against him in the 2015 shooting death of unarmed black motorist Walter Scott: a bystander’s cellphone video of the killing that was viewed millions of times. SENT: 130 words, photo. UPCOMING: Developing from 9 a.m. hearing.

HILLARY CLINTON-ST. PATRICK’S DAY – Hillary Clinton’s gradual return to the public spotlight following her presidential election loss continues with a St. Patrick’s Day speech in her late father’s Pennsylvania hometown. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: Developing; timing uncertain.

AMBULANCE DRIVER KILLED – A New York emergency medical technician and mother of five who authorities say was “bravely doing her job” was killed when she was run over by her own ambulance that had just been stolen. SENT: 480 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: May develop.

HOUSE EXPLOSION – A house in a Maryland suburb of the nation’s capital was leveled early Friday by a thunderous explosion heard for miles around, a blast so powerful it shattered windows and caused other damage to several neighboring homes, authorities said. SENT: 500 words, photos, video.

RALEIGH FIRE – Firefighters have extinguished a massive late-night fire that engulfed an apartment building under construction in North Carolina’s capital city, sending sparks and ash into the dark sky, authorities said Friday. SENT: 330 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Developing.

CHOLESTEROL DRUG – A long-acting cholesterol medicine cut the risk of having a heart attack or some other serious problems by 15 to 20 percent in a big study that’s likely to spur fresh debate about what drugs should cost. SENT: 780 words, photo. UPCOMING: May develop.

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BUSINESS /ECONOMY

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MONOPOLY TOKENS – Monopoly is making changes: The boot has been booted, the wheelbarrow has been wheeled out, and the thimble got the thumbs down in the latest version of the board game. SENT: 370 words. UPCOMING: May develop.

SODA TAX-PHILADELPHIA — Less than three months into Philadelphia’s new tax on sweetened drinks, the soda salvos haven’t ceased: Beverage makers say the measure is hurting sales so much they need to slash jobs, a rationale city officials dismiss as a ploy to get the tax struck down. UPCOMING: 920 words, photos.

WELLS FARGO-CEO — Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan sits down with the AP for an on-the-record interview, expected to range from the bank’s ongoing sales practices scandal, to the current political environment and his future plans for the bank. By Ken Sweet. UPCOMING: 800 words by 2 p.m., photos.

FUEL ECONOMY-STAY THE COURSE – Trump may weaken government fuel economy requirements, but don’t expect a comeback for the 13 mpg giant Hummer H1. Executives from automakers and suppliers say research will continue on gas engine improvements and electric and fuel cell vehicles. UPCOMING: 700 words at 11 a.m.

FCC-TILT TO INDUSTRY — Trumpism is slowly taking hold on your phone and computer, as the FCC starts rolling back Obama-era measures that upset the phone and cable industries. It’s just a prelude to the big fight now brewing over “net neutrality” rules that were designed to keep phone and cable giants from shaping the internet to their liking. UPCOMING: 800 words by noon, photo.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Alina Heineke can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 877-836-9477.